In a remarkable display of executive authority, President Donald J. Trump wasted no time after his inauguration in undoing many of the signature policies enacted by his predecessor, Joe Biden. Armed with a stack of executive orders, the 45th president – now serving his second non-consecutive term – took direct aim at the Biden agenda in his first hours back in the Oval Office.
A Swift Reversal on Climate
Perhaps the most notable action was Trump’s move to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord for a second time. In one of several executive orders related to environmental policy, the president declared that the international agreement posed an unfair economic burden and undermined America’s energy independence.
“The Paris accord was negotiated badly by the Biden administration and is very unfair to the United States,” Trump said as he displayed the signed order to applause from supporters. “We’re getting out, but we’ll start to negotiate and see if we can get a deal that’s fair.”
The move represents a stark contrast with the climate policies of the Biden era, which had made combating global warming a top priority. Environmental advocates were quick to condemn the decision, warning that it would set back international cooperation and weaken the global response to the climate crisis.
Upending Immigration Policies
In another flurry of executive actions, Trump took a hardline stance on immigration, revoking many of the policies put in place by the Biden administration to offer protections and pathways to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.
- Rescinded DACA, the program shielding immigrants brought to the U.S. as children from deportation
- Halted visa processing from several predominantly Muslim countries
- Diverted funding to resume construction of a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border
Immigration advocates denounced the orders as cruel and counterproductive, arguing that they would tear apart families and undermine the nation’s values. But Trump insisted that securing the border and limiting immigration were essential to protecting American jobs and keeping communities safe.
Putting America First on Trade
On the economic front, Trump took steps to reverse the Biden administration’s multilateral approach to trade, arguing that joining broad free trade agreements had put the United States at a competitive disadvantage.
The president signed an order withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a sprawling trade pact negotiated by the Obama administration and revived under Biden. He vowed instead to pursue bilateral trade deals that would put “America first.”
“We’re going to stop the ridiculous trade deals that have taken companies out of our country,” Trump declared. “America will start winning again, winning like never before.”
Overturning Healthcare and Social Policies
The new administration also took aim at key social and healthcare policies advanced under Biden:
- Directed federal agencies to roll back anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ people
- Reinstated restrictions on U.S. foreign aid being used for abortion-related services abroad
- Ordered a review of the expanded Affordable Care Act with an eye to weakening or repealing it
Critics argue that such actions will harm vulnerable populations and strip away important civil rights gains. But conservative groups cheered the moves as necessary to rein in liberal excesses and restore traditional values.
A Contentious Road Ahead
With his rapid-fire executive orders, Trump has set the stage for a contentious term that is likely to be defined by sharp clashes with Democrats and attempts to dismantle key parts of his predecessor’s legacy.
While the president can act unilaterally in many policy areas, overturning legislation will require cooperation from Congress – a tall order in a divided government. And many of Trump’s most controversial moves are sure to face legal challenges that could tie them up for months or years.
Still, the opening salvo makes clear that Trump intends to govern much the same way he campaigned – by putting forth a provocative, sharply conservative vision and daring his opponents to stand in his way. For a nation still reeling from years of political upheaval, the latest power shift signals that more turmoil and transformation lie ahead.
